Welcome to the BVM Blog!
This Blog aims to provide resources, research, information and global events.We are excited about sharing and exchanging ideas about learning & education.We hope Parents, educators & those interested will find these articles interesting.
Augmented Reality in Education: Understanding Its Impact on Learning
The popularity of augmented reality in education is growing globally. Through the use of AI in education, teachers are able to make learning more interactive and engaging for the learners to improve the learning outcomes. 97% of students would like to study a course that includes VR/AR. (Source: Zipdo)
What is augmented reality in education?
Augmented reality in education makes immersive learning possible in school, colleges, and other educational institutions.
AR in education makes the learning process more interactive, effective, and meaningful for the learners.
Augmented Reality in education overlays (superimposes) graphics, videos, and sounds in the classroom environment.
Coupled with traditional forms of learning, AR in education fosters critical thinking and boosts the levels of confidence and participation of learners in the classroom.
Many educational institutes worldwide have embraced AR in education to help students understand difficult concepts in a fun and interesting way.
Be it the study of history, science, or geometry, augmented reality in education makes it possible to examine, understand, and experience things in a more interactive way.
Augmented Reality examples in education
Here are some of the examples of applications of augmented reality in education.
Photomath
This smartphone AR application enables students to scan a math sum from the hardcopy of a worksheet, then virtually takes them through the solution in a step-by-step format using animation.
Merge EDU
It engages learners in science and STEM using 3D objects and simulations which they can touch, hold and interact with. The hands-on digital aids and simulations are designed to be used in the classroom and at home too.
Assemblr EDU
This app transforms classrooms into educational playgrounds. It generates curiosity, makes lessons more interactive to improve the understanding from the perspective of students. It also possesses the capability to create lesson plans within minutes.
Dinosaurs 4D+
This AR application gives students a prehistoric experience of dinosaurs that lived on Earth millions of years ago right before their eyes. When students scan the flashcards, the dinosaur appears along with some useful information related to that dinosaur.
Making classes more interactive through the use of AR in education
The main purpose of using augmented reality in education is to make learning more fun, engaging and interactive for students.
The use of AR in education enables teachers to capture the attention of students in no time.
It boosts engagement levels and makes immersive learning possible.
In a world where students find it difficult to concentrate in the classroom with the traditional blackboard based teaching, implementing AR in the classroom brings abstract topics to life.
Concepts like sets or logic in mathematics, or learning how the heart works in biology which students find difficult can now be made more effective than ever before, thanks to augmented reality in education.
The physical textbooks have QR codes which the students can scan and learn with 3D models using an AR app.
Immersive and interactive learning can also be made possible through 3D simulations that allow teachers to conduct physical experiments in a virtual world.
Benefits of augmented reality in education
There are a lot of benefits of augmented reality in education. Here are some of them.
Understand content easily
Earlier educational content focused merely on providing information to the students, rather than a means of entertainment
Initially, teachers in various schools around the world were hesitant to use augmented reality in education.
The AR technology at present makes it possible for teachers to create immersive learning experiences in the classroom.
This ensures that the students understand curriculum content thoroughly and don"t just rote learn the answers for the examinations.
Aid sensory development in learners
AR in education can help teachers create lesson plans with multisensory experiences.
Students benefit significantly from immersive content that includes experiential learning..
With augmented reality in education, students actively participate in activities instead of watching a presentation or demonstration done by the teachers.
This approach aids sensory development in the learners.
Higher student engagement
The use of augmented reality in education makes learning more immersive and interactive.
The content that is being taught in the classroom feels more real and relevant to the students.
Students in the classroom can actually practically see the objects or models in front of them.
By overlaying virtual content onto the classroom setting, AR in education brings objects to life. This makes learning more engaging and fun.
Thus, student engagement in an AR-powered classroom will be much higher compared to a traditional classroom.
Enhances knowledge retention
In the traditional method of learning, students find it difficult to retain the abstract concepts that they have learnt.
When students visualize difficult concepts through interactive virtual elements, AR helps them form stronger connections and associations with the subject matter.
When students can practically observe and interact with digital objects related to what they are studying from the books, the retention of what they have learned increases over time.
Fosters improved collaboration
Through augmented reality in education, students get the chance to engage with intricate concepts through enriching visuals.
This makes the classroom interactive and promotes discussions in the class, resulting in higher student engagement.
AR in education makes academic content easy to understand.
The visual means of learning gives students the chance to voice their opinion.
The more the communication of thoughts and interaction, better will be the collaboration among students in the classroom.
The market size of augmented reality in education and training worldwide is estimated to grow to USD 99.27 billion at a CAGR of 54.3 percent. (Source: Business Research Company)
The use of AR and other technologies by Los Angeles City College: A case study
The instructors at MetaCity have created AR/VR/MR lessons for over 30 academic disciplines
- microbiology, history, mathematics, chemistry, anatomy, electronics, music, and others. In the Spring 2022 semester, more than 1,100 students used AR/VR/MR lessons. (Source: LACC)
The use of augmented reality in education along with other robust technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, machine learning, etc. helps create an interactive and immersive learning space in the classroom. Through the various applications of augmented reality, students gain complete knowledge of the subject matter in a particular subject. The benefits of AR in education are not just confined to the classrooms but in distance learning as well. AR is becoming a popular learning tool in educational institutions worldwide. The practical and immersive learning for students along with easy understanding would result in increased adoption of augmented reality in education by schools and universities in the coming years.